Human CRIPTO-related gene and method of measuring CR-3

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates, in general, to a human CRIPTO-related gene. In particular, the present invention relates to a DNA segment encoding a human CRIPTO-related gene; polypeptides encoded by said DNA segment; recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA segment; cells containing the recombinant DNA molecule; a method of producing a human CRIPTO-related polypeptide; a DNA segment encoding a genomic clone of the human CRIPTO gene (CR-1); antibodies specific to CR-3; and a method of measuring the amount of CR-3 in a sample.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 98/154,198, filed Nov. 17, 1993, which is a division of application Ser. No. 07/749,001, filed Aug. 23, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,557, all of which are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to a human CRIPTO-related gene. In particular, the present invention relates to a DNA segment encoding a human CRIPTO-related gene; polypeptides encoded by the DNA segment; recombinant DNA molecules containing the DNA segment; cells containing the recombinant DNA molecule; a method of producing a human CRIPTO-related polypeptide; a DNA segment encoding a genomic clone of the human CRIPTO gene (CR-1); antibodies specific to CR-3; and a method of measuring the amount of CR-3 in a sample.

2. Background Information

Polypeptide growth factors play a role in stimulating cell proliferation. Their genes are expressed in the developing embryo, in normal adult tissues and in tumor cells (for review see Devel, T. F., Ann. Rev. Cell Biol. (1987) 3:443-492; Sporn, M. B. et al., Nature (1987) 332:217-219; Whitman, M. et al., Ann. Rev. Biol. (1989) 5:93-117). Characterization of these factors and sequencing of their genes have permitted their grouping into a relatively small number of families on the basis of sequence similarities (Mercola, M. et al., Development (1988) 108:451-460). One of these is the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family. EGF (Savage, C. R. et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1972) 247:7612-7621), transforming growth factor α (TGFα) (Derynck, R. et al., Cell (1984) 38:287-297) and amphiregulin (AR) (Plowman, G. D. et al., Mol. Cell Biol., (1990) 10:1969-1981) share structural similarities including the conservation of six cystsines of the "EGF motif", which in EGF are involved in three disulfide bonds defining the tertiary structure. The presence of "EGF motif" also in developmental genes, such as Notch in Drosophila (Kidd, S. et al., Mol. Cell. Biol. (1986) 6:3094-3108) and lin-12 in C. elegans (Greenwald, I., Cell (1985) 43:583-590), may imply a novel role for the growth factors of the "EGF family." It has been suggested that they may exert their action on the cell surface during development to mediate cell-cell interactions by recognizing a complementary receptor on another cell.

Previously, the isolation of a human cDNA, referred to as CRIPTO (CR-1)(Ciccodicola, A. et al., EMBO J. (1989) 8:1987-1991), encoding a protein of 188 amino acids was described. The central portion of this protein shares structural similarities with the human TGFα (Derynck, R. et al., Cell (1984) 38:287-297), human AR (Plowman, G. D. et al., Mol. Cell Biol., (1990) 10:1969-1981) and human EGF (Savage, C. R. et al., J. Biol. Chem. (1972) 247:7612-7621). Northern blot analysis of a wide variety of tumor and normal cell lines and tissues (e.g., choriocarcinoma, fibroblast, neuroblastoma, HeLa, placenta and testis) has shown that CRIPTO transcripts are detected only in undifferentiated human NTERA-2 clone D1 (NT2/D1) and mouse (F9) teratocarcinoma cells and these disappear after inducing the cells to differentiate with retinoic acid treatment (Ciccodicola, A. et al., EMBO J. (1989) 8:1987-1991).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of this invention to provide a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

It is a specific object of this invention to provide a DNA segment which encodes a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

It is a further object of the invention to provide a polypeptide corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

It is another object of the invention to provide a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector and a DNA segment encoding a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

It is a further object of the invention to provide a cell that contains the above-described recombinant molecule.

It is another object of the invention to provide a method of producing a polypeptide encoding a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

It is a further object of the invention to provide a genomic DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO gene (CR-1).

It is a further object of the invention to provide antibodies having binding affinity to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3), or a unique portion thereof and not to CR-1, or a unique portion thereof.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of measuring the amount of CR-3 in a sample.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be clear from the description that follows.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene CR-3.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide free of proteins with which it is naturally associated and comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector and a DNA segment that codes for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to a cell that contains the above-described recombinant DNA molecule.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of producing a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3).

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a genomic DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO gene (CR-1).

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to an antibody having binding affinity to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3), or a unique portion thereof and not to CR-1, or a unique portion thereof.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of measuring the amount of CR-3 in a sample, comprising contacting the sample with the above-described antibodies and measuring the amount of immunocomplexes formed between the antibodies and any CR-3 in the sample.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. CRIPTO-related sequences in human and mouse DNA. In FIG. 1A, 10 μg of genomic DNA was digested with EcoRI (E), PstI (P) and EcoRI+PstI (E/P), and size-fractionated by agarose gel electrophoresis. Hybridization probes are ³² P-nick-translated 2B3 and G2 segments. The molecular weight markers included are HindIII/EcoRI-digested Lambda DNA. In FIG. 1B, 10 μg of mouse (first three lanes from left) and chicken DNA (fourth and fifth lanes) was digested with PstI (P), BamHI (B) and EcoRI (E). Hybridization probe is ³² P-nick-translated 2B3 segment. Electrophoresis, transfer and hybridization were as described below except for washing conditions (2× SSC at 60° C.). FIG. 1C shows schematic representation of human CRIPTO cDNA. The coding region is indicated by a solid box; AAAA indicates the poly(A) tail. cDNA regions corresponding to 2B3 and G2 probes are indicated.

FIGS. 2A-2G. Nucleotide sequence of CR-1 and CR-3 genomic DNAe. The sequence of 5763 nucleotides of the CR-1 gene is shown. The nucleotides are numbered from the start codon and the amino acids for CR-1 are shown below. The nucleotide sequence of CR-3 is shown on top of CR-1. Nucleotide changes and deletions (Δ) in the CR-3 sequence are indicated above the CR-1 sequence. The six amino acid changes are indicated below the CR-1 protein sequence. It is to be noted that all the introns of CR-1 are absent in the CR-3 sequence. The boxed motifs are Sp1 binding, sites (solid-line boxes), pyrimidine stretches (thin-line boxes) and polyadenylation signals (broken-line box). The vertical arrows indicate the multiple transcription starts. The Alu sequence present in the mRNA is underlined.

FIG. 3. Maps summarizing information obtained from DNA sequencing and restriction mapping of isolated CRIPTO homologous recombinant clones. Top: Physical map of CR-1. Numbered exons are indicated by black boxes for coding region and white boxes for non-coding regions. The hatched box represents the 440 bp upstream of the most common transcription start present also in CR-3. Restriction sites are indicated: EcoRI (E); BamHI (B); PstI (P). Thick lines above the map denote genomic subclones used as probes. Bottom: Physical map of CR-3. Below are represented the genomic region isolated and EcoRI (E), HindIII (H), PstI (P) restriction sites. CR-3 contains all the exons and a polyA tail (AAAA).

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. S1 nuclease and primer extension analyses.

FIGS. 5A and 5B. Southern blot analysis using the CR-1-P7 probe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a human CRITPO-related gene. This novel human gene (designated CR-3) has been isolated and cloned from a human genomic library using a human CRIPTO cDNA fragment. The CR-3 gene sequence is identical to the human CRIPTO gene sequence with the exception of eight base pair substitutions that give rise to six amino acid changes in the sequence of the protein. The CR-3 human cDNA has been expressed in mammalian COS cells and the recombinantly produced protein can be used to study its biological properties and as an immunogen to generate monospecific antibodies.

CR-3 exhibits partial amino acid sequence homology and a tertiary structure within a 38 amino acid region similar to the EGF supergens family that includes EGF, TGFα, and amphiregulin. Since those peptides are potent mitogens that are involved in regulating the proliferation, differentiation, and transformation of various mesenchymal and epithelfal cells, CR-3 like CRIPTO can be expected to be a regulatory molecule that is involved in each of these processes. In addition, expression of CR-3 may serve as a tumor specific marker that may have applicability in the diagnosis, prognosis, and possible treatment of specific types of cancer. In this respect, CR-3 mRNA is expressed in several human colon cancer cell lines and possibly in human colorectal tumors.

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3) and allelic and species variation thereof. In a preferred embodiment the DNA segment comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:4. In another preferred embodiment, the DNA segment encodes the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a polypeptide free of proteins with which it is naturally associated (or bound to a solid support) and comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3) and allelic and species variation thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the polypeptide comprises the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a recombinant DNA molecule comprising a vector (for example plasmid or vital vector) and a DNA segment coding for a polypeptide corresponding to CR-3, as described above. In a preferred embodiment, the encoding segment is present in the vector operably linked to a promoter.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a cell containing the above described recombinant DNA molecule. Suitable host cells include procaryotes (such as bacteria, including E. coli) and both lower eucaryotes (for example yeast) and higher eucaryotes (for example, mammalian cells). Introduction of the recombinant molecule into the cell can be effected using methods known in the art.

In another embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of producing a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence corresponding to CR-3 comprising culturing the above-described cell under conditions such that the DNA segment is expressed and the polypeptide thereby produced and isolating the polypeptide.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a DNA segment coding for a polypeptide comprising an amino acid sequence corresponding to a human CRIPTO gene (CR-1) wherein said DNA segment comprises the sequence shown in SEQ ID NO:2. The CR-1 genomic clone can be used in transgenic animals to examine the effects of overexpression of this gene on development and tumorigenicity and to study the regulation of this gene via sequences in the 5-flanking region that are upstream from the ATG translation initiation codon.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention relates to an antibody having binding affinity to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3), or a unique portion thereof and not to CR-1, or a unique portion thereof. In one preferred embodiment, CR-3 has the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, or allelic or species variation thereof.

Antibodies can be raised to CR-3, or unique portions thereof, in its naturally occuring form and in its recombinant form. Additionally, antibodies can be raised to CR-3 in both its active form and inactive form, the difference being that antibodies to the active CR-3 are more likely to recognize epitopes which are only present in the active CR-3.

CR-3 may be joined to other materials, particularly polypeptides, as fused or covalently joined polypeptides to be used as immunogens. CR-3 or its fragments may be fused or covalently linked to a variety of immunogens, such as keyhole limpet hemocyanin, bovine serum albumin, tetanus toxoid, etc. See for example, Microbiology, Hoeber Medical Division (Harper and Row, 1969), Landsteiner, Specificity of Serological Reactions (Dover Publications, New York, 1962) and Williams et al., Methods in Immunology and Immunochemistry, Vol. 1 (Academic Press, New York, 1967), for descriptions of methods of preparing polyclonal antisera. A typical method involves hyperimmunization of an animal with an antigen. The blood of the animal is then collected shortly after the repeated immunizations and the gamma globulin is isolated.

In some instances, it is desirable to prepare monoclonal antibodies from various mammalian hosts. Description of techniques for preparing such monoclonal antibodies may be found in Stites et al., editors, Basic and Clinical Immunology, (Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, Calif., Fourth edition) and references cited therein, and in particular in Kohler and Milstein in Nature 256:495-497 (1975), which discusses one method of generating monoclonal antibodies.

Antibodies having binding affinity to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3), or a unique portion thereof and not to CR-1, or a unique portion thereof can be isolated using screening methods (for example, ELISA assays). Antibodies having binding affinity for CR-3 (with or without binding affinity for CR-1) can be used in immunoassays to detect CR-3.

In a further embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of measuring the amount of CR-3 in a sample, comprising contacting the sample with the above-described antibodies and measuring the amount of immunocomplexes formed between the antibodies and any CR-3 in the sample. Measuring the amount of immunoclomexes formed can be any of those well known in the art, such as RIA, ELISA, and direct and indirect immunoassays.

EXAMPLES

The following protocols and experimental details are referenced in the Examples that follow:

Southern blot analysis and chromosomal mapping panels.

All the hybrid cell lines were hamster x human obtained following a published protocol (Davidson, R. D., Somatic Cell Gen. (1976) 2:165-176). The hybrid clones were characterized for their human chromosome content (Rocchi, M. etal., Hum. Gen, (1986) 74:30-33).

DNA preparation from human peripheral blood lymphocytes and cell lines, restriction enzyme digestion, electrophoresis and Southern blotting were performed using standard techniques (Maniatis, T. et al., Molecular cloning: A laboratory manual (1982) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York). In general, 10 μg of DNA was digested with 40 units of enzyme. Electrophoresis of DNA digests was carried out in agarose gel (0.8%) in TEB buffer (89 mM Tris, 2 mM EDTA, 89 mM boric acid). DNAs were transferred by Southern capillary blot onto nylon membranes ZETABIND (AMF Cuno, Meriden, Conn.), fixed by UV cross-linking and hybridized to 10⁷ dpm DNA probes labeled by nick translation (Rigby, P. W. J. et al., J. Mol. Biol. (1977) 113:237-251) to a specific activity of about 2×10⁸ dpm/μg. Washing was carried out at 65° C. in 2× SSC, 0.2% SDS and subsequently in 0.2× SSC, 0.2% SDS at 65° C.

Isolation of CRIPTO genomic clones.

Genomic clones were isolated from two different human genomic libraries: one obtained by partial MboI digestion of genomic DNA cloned in the BamHI site of the pcos2EMBL. Cosmid Vector (Poustka, A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1984), 81:4129-4133), the other obtained by partial MboI digestion of genomic DNA that had been flush ended and cloned into the flush ended XhoI site of Lambda Fix Vector (Stratagene). 5×10⁵ cosmids and 10⁶ phages were screened using the CRIPTO cDNA fragment 2B3 (see FIG. 1C) by standard techniques (Grunstein, M. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1975) 72:3961-3965; Benton, W. et al., Science (1977) 196:180-182, respectively). The positive clones were analyzed by restriction mapping and the genomic fragments hybridizing to the human cDNA were subcloned in pUC18 Vector (Yanish-Perron, C. et al., Gene (1985) 33:103-109) or in pGEM-1 Vector (Promega). DNA sequencing of the genomic subclones was carried out using the modified dideoxynucleotide chain termination procedure (Hattori M. et al., Nucl. Acids Res, (1985) 13:7813-7827). An oligonucleotide walking strategy was performed using synthetic 17-mer oligonucleotides (Applied Biosystems) deduced from the genomic sequence previously determined.

S1 nuclease mapping.

Total RNA from undifferentiated teratocarcinoma cells NT2/D1 (Andrews, P. W. et al., Lab. Invest. (1984) 50:147-162) was isolated by cell lysis in 4M guanidine thiocyanate and sedimentation through 5.7M CsCl (Chirgwin, J. M. et al., Biochemistry (1979) 18:5294-5304). Poly(A)+RNA was selected by chromatography on oligo(dT) cellulose (Aviv, H. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1972) 69:1408-1412). 5 μg of poly(A)+RNA or 40 μg of total RNA was hybridized with the 320 bp Sau96 fragment of Cr-1-73-H (FIG. 3), ³² P-5'-end labeled, in 20 μl of 40 mM Pipes, pH 7, 0.4M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7, and 80% formamide for 16 h at 50° C. Following hybridization, the reaction was diluted 10-fold with S1 nuclease buffer (0.28M NaCl, 0.05M sodium acetate, pH 4.5, 4.5 mM ZnSO₄ and 20 μg/ml single strand DNA). S1 nuclease (1200 units) was added and the reaction mixture was incubated for 2 h at 37° C. The reaction was terminated by the addition of 44 μl of termination buffer (2.5M ammonium acetate and 50 mM EDTA); the DNA:RNA hybrids were extracted with phenol, precipitated with ethanol, resuspended in sequencing dye, heated to 90° C. and resolved on a 6% acrylamide, 7M urea sequencing gel.

Primer extension.

For primer extension analysis, a 35 bp synthetic oligonucleotide, ol GP2 (3'-CCCGGTAGAAGGACGTCAGGTATCGAAATTGTTAA-5') corresponding to base pairs -9+21 of the first exon was end-labeled using T4 polynucleotide kinase to a specific activity of 10⁸ cpm/μg of poly(A)+mRNA from NT2/D1 cells (Andrews, P. W. et al., Lab. Invest. (1984) 50:147-162) in a 40-μl volume containing 10 mM Pipes pH 6.4, 0.4M NaCl, 1 mM EDTA, by heating the reaction mixture for 3 min at 90° C., 2 min at 75° C. and gradual cooling to 42° C. After 14 h at 42° C., the resulting DNA:RNA hybrids were ethanol-precipitated and dissolved in reverse transcription buffer (50 mM Tris HCl pH 8, 0.1M KCl, 10 mM MgCl₂) in the presence of 500 μM deoxynucleotides and 20 units of reverse transcriptase. After 1 h at 42° C., the DNA:RNA hybrids were phenol-extracted, ethanol-precipitated, dissolved in sequencing dye, heated to 90° C. and resolved on a 6% acrylamide, 7M urea sequencing gel.

EXAMPLE 1 Genomic complexity of CRIPTO gene-related sequences in human chromosomes

The 2020 bp long CRIPTO cDNA previously described (Ciccodicola, A. et al., EMBO J. (1989) 8:1987-1991) contains an open reading frame of 564 bp, a 245 bp long 5' untranslated region, and a 1209 bp long 3' untranslated region that includes an Alu sequence element.

As a first approach to characterize the genomic organization of the gene encoding the CRIPTO protein, Southern blot analyses were carried out. The two cDNA fragments, 2B3 and G2 (FIG. 1C), used as probes, hybridized to several genomic restriction fragments (FIG. 1A). The 2B3 probe, used to analyze by Southern blot the genomic DNA of mouse and chicken, hybridized to several bands in the lanes containing mouse DNA (FIG. 1B, first three lanes), whereas no hybridization was seen with chicken DNA (FIG. 1B fourth and fifth lanes).

EXAMPLE 2 Isolation and characterization of CRIPTO human genomic clones

To better understand the nature of the CRIPTO gene-related sequences, a human genomic library (Poustka, A. et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA (1984), 81:4129-4133) was screened using CRIPTO fragment 2B3 as a probe and 34 positive cosmid clones were isolated.. EcoRI restriction analysis of 10 of the isolated clones revealed only 3 different restriction patterns in the inserts.

The isolated clones were hybridized to a synthetic oligonucleotide (G1) corresponding to nucleotides -91 to -110 of the 5' non-coding region of CRIPTO cDNA (Ciccodicola, A. et al., EMBO J. (1989) 8:1987-1991 and FIGS. 2A-2G), with the intention of isolating the complete gene and discarding possible incomplete pseudogenes. A positive 800 bp PstI/EcoRI fragment (CR-1-P7) was identified in the CR-1 cosmid clone (FIG. 3 top).

DNA sequencing analysis revealed that clone CR-1 includes an intact structural gene encoding the entire human CRIPTO protein. The CRIPTO coding sequence is encoded by six exons spanning a 4.8 kb long DNA interval (FIG. 3 top). The nucleotide sequences at the exon-intron boundaries were established by DNA sequence comparison of cDNA and genomic subclones. The 5' donor and 3' acceptor splice sites in each of the five introns conform to the GT . . . AG rule and agree with the consensus sequence compiled for the exon-intron boundaries (Mount, S. M., Nucl. Acids Res., (1982) 10:459-472) except for the acceptor sequence of the second and third introns (FIG. 2). Exon 1 is 281 bp in length and contains the initiator methionine. The other exons range in size from 52 to 1329 bp. The most 3' exon, 1329 bp in length, contains 118 bp of coding sequence and all of the 3' untranslated region (3' UT), which is 1209 nucleotides long (FIG. 2). The EGF-like domain exhibited by the CRIPTO protein (Ciccedicola et al. 1989) is encoded by exon 4.

A combination of S1 nuclease mapping and primer extension analyses was used to characterize the CR-1 transcription products.

Since the CRIPTO gene was found to be expressed in an undifferentiated human teratocarcinoma cell line (NT2/D1) (Ciccodicola et al. 1989), poly (A)+RNA isolated from cultured NT2/D1 cells was used. The probe used for S1 nuclease mapping was a double-strand DNA fragment encompassing nucleotides -302 to +18 of the genomic sequence and was labeled with ³² P at the 5' end (FIG. 4C). Five major S1 nuclease-protected fragments (FIG. 4A) mapping between positions -180 to -253 of the genomic sequence were observed (FIG. 4C).

The primer extension assay, performed with ol GP2 (FIG. 4C) confirmed the five major products corresponding in length to the transcripts predicted by S1 analysis (FIG. 4B). It should be noted that other bands are seen in primer extension experiments probably due to both minor RNA species and early termination of the reverse transcriptase reaction.

EXAMPLE 3 Chromosome mapping with somatic cell hybrid panel

A chromosome mapping panel was used to assign the CR-1 gene to human chromosomes. A 1.5 kb long PstI fragment derived from CR-1 (CR-1-P3, FIG. 3 top) was used to probe a Southern blot of TaqI-digested genomic DNAs prepared from 23 hamster human somatic cell hybrids (Table I). Under conditions of high stringency one human specific genomic fragment of 4.5 kb hybridized to the probe. The presence of the 4.5 kb fragment could be clearly distinguished in the DNA of the hybrid cell lines containing chromosome 3 (Table I).

When the EcoRI-PstI fragment (CR-1-P7) containing 800 bp upstream of the translation initiation (see FIG. 3 top) was used to probe the same Southern blot described previously and shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, hybridization to two fragments was seen (e.g., in the lane containing human DNA digested with EcoRI and PstI (FIG. 5A), the 0.8 kb band corresponds to the genomic sequence CR-1). This indicated that the 5' region of the CR-1 gene was present in two copies in the human genome. When the CR-1-P7 fragment was used to probe the above-mentioned hamster-human somatic cell hybrid panel, it was possible to obtain the segregation of the two sequences (FIG. 5B). Because of the hybridization pattern summarized in Table I and, in particular, the pattern obtained using the hybrid cell lines containing portions of the X chromosome already described (Rocchi et al. 1986), the second genomic copy can be assigned to the Xq21-22 region.

                                      TABLE I                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Segregation of CRIPTO-related sequences in human/hamster hybrids               Cell lines                                                                             Chromosomes present CR-1                                                                               CR-3                                           __________________________________________________________________________     HY.19.16T3D                                                                            Xq-, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 20                                                                    -   -                                              HY.22AZA1                                                                              t(X;X).sup.a, 5, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19                                                                -   +                                              HY.31.24E                                                                              X, 5, 8, 11, 12, 14, 21                                                                            -   +                                              HY.36.1 X, 8, 11, 19        -   +                                              HY.60A  X, 5, 6, 8, 13, 14, 18, 20                                                                         -   +                                              HY.7081A                                                                               t(X;21).sup.b, 6, 15, 16                                                                           -   -                                              HY.7082 t(X;21).sup.b, 6, 13, 15, 16                                                                       -   -                                              HY.75E1 X, 5, 9, 12         -   +                                              HY.94A  X, 6, 7, 8, 16, 22  -   +                                              HY.94BT1                                                                               t(X;Y).sup.c, 4, 7, 9, 11, 12, 20                                                                  -   +                                              HY.95A1 X, 3, 5, 10, 11, 14 +   +                                              HY.95B  X, 4, 6, 7, 14, 18, 22                                                                             -   +                                              HY.95S  X, 2, 3, 13, 21     +   +                                              HY.112F7                                                                               t(X;11).sup.d, 3, 4, 8, 10, 20                                                                     +   +                                              RJ.369.1T2                                                                             13, 22              -   -                                              Y.173.5CT3                                                                             Xi, 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 11, 12, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22                                                      +   +                                              YC2T1   X, 1, 11, 12, 14, 18, 19, 20                                                                       -   +                                              HY.136C X                   -   +                                              Y.X6.8B2                                                                               t(X;6).sup.e, 1, 3, 5, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 21, 22                                                  +   +                                              Y.162AZA                                                                               t(X;hamster).sup.f  -   +                                              HY.87Z4 t(X;11).sup.g, 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 12, 15, 20                                                           -   -                                              HY.85D30T2                                                                             t(X;1).sup.h, 2, 3, 8, 11, 13, 18, 21                                                              +   +                                              HY.84T2 Y                   -   -                                              Chromosome assignment       3   Xq21-Xq22                                      Number concordant +         6   17                                             Number concordant -         17  6                                              Number discordant           0   0                                              __________________________________________________________________________      Note: + and - indicate, respectively, presence or absence of CR1 and CR3       sequences                                                                      .sup.a Xqter ->Xq21::Xp22.3 ->Xqter                                            .sup.b Xqter ->Xq21::21p13 ->21qter                                            .sup.c Xqter ->Xq22.3::Yp ->Yqter                                              .sup.d Xqter ->Xq11.1::11p11.2 ->11q11                                         .sup.e Xqter ->Xq21.3::6q27 ->6pter                                            .sup.f Xpter ->Xq27.3::hamster                                                 .sup.g Xqter ->Xq26::11q23 ->11pter                                      

EXAMPLE 4 Isolation and characterization of a second genomic CRIPTO-related sequence

A genomic library was screened to isolate the genomic clones containing the 5' cDNA non-coding region using as probe the labeled CR-1-P7 DNA fragment (FIG. 3). Only two different classes of recombinant phages were found exhibiting the restriction pattern expected from the Southern blot (FIG. 5A and 5B).

The restriction map of clone CR-3 is shown in FIG. 3 bottom. To investigate whether the CRIPTO related genomic sequences from recombinant lambda CR-3 clones encode a complete CRIPTO protein, the nucleotide sequence of a 2688 bp fragment hybridizing to 2B3 and G2 was determined and compared this sequence with that of cDNA (FIGS. 2A-2G and 3 bottom).

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of CR-3 revealed that this clone includes a complete CRIPTO cDNA lacking introns and containing a poly(A) tract at the 3' end. Seven single base pair substitutions are observed in the coding region (FIGS. 2A-2G) and six of these give rise to amino acid changes. The 3' non-coding sequence is less similar (97% identical) to CR-1. Most of the base changes, deletions and insertions fall within the inverted Alu sequence. The unusual polyA addition site AGTAAA present in the CR-1 gene is conserved also in CR-3. The similarity between CR-1 and CR-3 extends for 697 nucleotides upstream of the initiator AUG where it is possible to observe 7 base pair substitutions and 6 nucleotide deletions.

All publications mentioned hereinabove are hereby incorporated in their entirety by reference.

While the foregoing invention has been described in some detail for purposes of clarity and understanding, it will be appreciated by one skilled in the art from a reading of this disclosure that various changes in form and detail can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention and appended claims.

    __________________________________________________________________________     SEQUENCE LISTING                                                               (1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                       (iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 5                                                   (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:1:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 35 base pairs                                                      (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:1:                                        AATTGTTAAAGCTATGGACTGCAGGAAGATGGCCC35                                          (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:2:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 5761 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:2:                                        GCCGGCACTCCCACTGGAGAGTCCCAGCTGCCTCTGGCCGCCCCTCCCCTCTCCCGGGCA60                 CCTGGCGCCGCTCCCGCGTCCTTTCAGGAATTCACGTCCGCCTGGAATTTGCACTTCAAG120                TCTGGAGCCCCCAAGGAACCCCTCCTGACCCTGAACTTCTATCTCAGTTTCAAGCTTCCT180                AGTCTTCCCCACACACACACACCTAGCTCCTCAGGCGGAGAGCACCCCTTTCTTGGCCAC240                CCGGGTATCCCCCAGGGAGTACGGGGCTCAAAACACCCTTCTGGAAAAAACAAAGGTGGA300                AGCAAATTTCAGGAAGTAAAACTTCTGAAATAAAATAAAATATCGAATGCCTTGAGACCC360                ATACATTTTCAGGTTTTCCTAATTAAAGCAATTACTTTCCACCACCCCTCCAACCTGGAA420                TCACCAACTTGATTAGAGAAACTGATTTTTCTTTTTTCTTTTTTTTTCCCGAAAAGAGTA480                CCTCTGATCATTTTAGCCTGCAACTAATGATAGAGATATTAGGGCTAGTTAACCACAGTT540                TTACAAGACTCCTCTTCCCGCGTGTGGGCCATTGTCATGCTGTCGGTCCCGCCCACCTGA600                AAGGTCTCCCCGCCCCGACTGGGGTTTGTTGTTGAAGAAGGAGAATCCCCGGAAAGGCTG660                AGTCTCCAGCTCAAGGTCAAAACGTCCAAGGCCGAAAGCCCTCCAGTTTCCCCTGGACGC720                CTTGCTCCTGCTTCTGCTACGACCTTCTGGGGAAAACGAATTTCTCATTTTCTTCTTAAA780                TTGCCATTTTCGCTTTAGGAGATGAATGTTTTCCTTTGGCTGTTTTGGCAATGACTCTGA840                ATTAAAGCGATGCTAACGCCTCTTTTCCCCCTAATTGTTAAAAGCTATGGACTGCAGGAA900                GATGGCCCGCTTCTCTTACAGGTATGAGCTAATCTTAGAATAGTGAACTTTTTTTGATTG960                CTAGAGATTGCCAGCTTAGGAAGTAATGTTCTACACTGTCATTTGATTTTTCTCCTTGCT1020               CAAGCCTTAAAAGAGCTGCCAACCGACTGCTGTTTTTCCTGAAAGACCTGGAATTTCACA1080               TGGTTACTTCTAACTTTGCCATTGGCTTTTAACATTTTCGTGTTAATGTTAATTTTCATT1140               TTATGTTAATGACTCTGCCTATGAAATAGTGTTTCTTTACTTCTTGTACAAATAAAGGTC1200               AGTACTACAACCAAATTTAAATCTTCCGAAAAGATTAAAGGTATAAGCAGATTCAATACT1260               TGGCAAAACTATTAAGATAATAGCAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACCCACATTTTTTACCTAAAA1320               ACCTTTTAAGTGATTGGTTAAAATAGTTTGGCCGGGTGCGGTGGCTCACGCCTGTAATCC1380               TAGCACTTTGGGAGGCAGAGGCGGGTGGATCACTGAGGTCAGGAGACCAGCCTGGCCAAC1440               ATGGCAAAACCCCGTCTCTATTAAAAATACAAAAATTAGCCAAGCATGGTGGCGGGCACC1500               TGTAATCCCAGCTACTCTGGAGGCTGAGGCAGGAGAATTGCTTGAACTGGGGAGGGGAGG1560               CAGTGAGCCGAGATCGCACCATTGCACTCCAGCCTGGGTGAAAAACCGAAACTCCCTCTC1620               AAAAATAAATAAATAAATACAGTAGTTTGTAAAATGATTCATCGGTAACATGGGATGCAG1680               CTATTTTTTAATCCTTATATGAAAATTGTATGCAGGGGAAAACATGTGAAATAGAAGATA1740               AAAGACATATACCTACTTAAAATTAGGTACTTATGTGAGGACAGGGCCTAAGAAATAATA1800               ATATATATTAAAAAGACTTGGATATTGGTGACTTTTTTTCAACATTTTTCTTTGTTACAT1860               GAATTAGCCATTAAAAAAAGAAAGATGGTGCTCTACAATTTCTTTTCAGTGATCTGTGGT1920               CTTGTCCTTGTGATGAGAGGACCTGGGTGTTAACTTGTAAGGTTTTATTTCCTTTGTTTG1980               GCTAACTCATGTTTGACTTCCTCTTCCTAGTGTGATTTGGATCATGGCCATTTCTAAAGT2040               CTTTGAACTGGGATTAGTTGCCGGTGAGAGACCTTTTGTTTCTTTTGATCACTCTCAATT2100               TTATGTGGCCTAAAATACAGACTCCATGAATTGATTTGTCGTTAAGGGCTGGGCCATCAG2160               GAATTTGCTCGTCCATCTCGGGGATACCTGGCCTTCAGAGATGACAGCATTTGGCCCCAG2220               GAGGAGCCTGCAATTCGGCCTCGGTCTTCCCAGCGTGTGCCGCCCATGGGGATACAGCAC2280               AGTAAGAACTGCCTGACTTCGATGCTTCTGCCCTGGCCCTTCATGTGTCTCCTGACTATC2340               TTTCCAACACTCTTTCACCTAAAAGGGCACCTGGTTCTGGAACTGTGCAGGTGCTGGACT2400               GCTTTGGTTTTGGAAGTGAGACAAGGATTGTGTATTTTACTTCCCTAGAGTGCAGTTTCC2460               TCCCCTGAGTCCACTTCACACTGGGAACCCAGAACCACCACTGGCCTATGCATGAAAATG2520               ACTTCTCTGCTCAAAGGCACAGAGTCTTACTCTGATACAACACATTGGTGTTGTATTAAC2580               CTTCGCTTACAGGAATTGCCCTTGCACTTTTCCATCCCTACACCTCAGTCATTCTGTTCT2640               TACCTTTCAAGGTAAGGAGCTAAACAGAACCTGCTGCCTGAATGGGGGAACCTGCATGCT2700               GGGGTCCTTTTGTGCCTGCCCTCCCTCCTTCTACGGACGGAACTGTGAGCACGATGTGCG2760               CAAAGAGTAAGCAATTCAGAGGGGCGGGGAGCCGTGGAGAGGAGAGAGAAAGGGAAGTGG2820               AAATTTCAGACCCAAGCTATCGCAGCTTACCTGTTCATTCTCAGGAACTGTGGGTCTGTG2880               CCCCATGACACCTGGCTGCCCAAGAAGTGTTCCCTGTGTAAATGCTGGCACGGTCAGCTC2940               CGCTGCTTTCCTCAGGCATTTCTACCCGGCTGTGGTAAGCGGAGGTTCTCCTCTTTCTTT3000               TGCCCTTTGAAGTTACGTAGTTGCCTTGGGGGGTGCTTAGTTAGCAGGCTCTCCTTGTAC3060               CTCTTGTCTTGCTAGAGCCTGGCAGCCAAAGTTCTGCTTATAAAAGCATCGCAGACTCCT3120               GATGAGATAGTTGCCTTGGCCTCTTTGATATTTATTTCCTCGGGAACCTGGCTAGTCCTG3180               CTGCCTTTCAGATAGAGATGTATTTCAAGTCTATTTGACATTTTATGGTCTGAACTTCTA3240               TTGAGGAAAATAAACAAGTCTCGGTCTCTTGTTAAACCAAGAGATGTTCTCTGGTGTTCC3300               TTTCCTTTGGGTAGGGGGGACCCAAACCAGGATGGGCAGCTCATTTAGAGCCCACCCTGA3360               CGACAAATTCTATCAGAGGCTTGGCCCCTTGCTAGTCCTTTAGAAACTTCCAGAGTCCTA3420               AAAGTCCCTGGTAACCCCCTCCCCATACCTTACCATGACTGGTCACAGAACCCTTACCAT3480               GACTGGTCACAGAACCCTTTCACCTTCTTGATTTTTTACTGATTTGAGGAATACAATGAA3540               AAGAAGGGCAGCACCTGGAGAGGAAAAGAGGCGACAGTCCTCTCTCCACCCTAGCCTGAG3600               CCAGGTTTCTAGGGCCCCCCAAATTCAGAGACCTATTATAGTTCTGGGCCTTGGAGATGT3660               AGAAATGGAAAATATTCAAGCCCAGGAAGTAAATGAAAGCAAACATTTCACTGAGAACAG3720               GAAGGAATTCCCCAATCCAGACAGGGATTGTGTCTTTGCCATTTGCATCCTGGGTGTCAG3780               GCTCAGGATAGGTGTTTGATAAGTGTGGGTTGGGTGATTGGATGTGTAGGGAACATTTGC3840               TCTTCCTGGAACATGGGGCCCAAGTCAGAATCTAACCCAGGTTGTGCTCATTCCTGCAAG3900               TGAAGGCATCACCACTGGGCTAGGTTCCAGGTGTGAGTGTCCTGAGAAGAGCAGGTTCAC3960               AGTAGCGTATAGATATGCCACATTTGTGGGCAGCAGGATGAACTGCCAGAGAGGTTTGCT4020               TTAATGACCAAGCATCCCTACCTTCCAGATGGCCTTGTGATGGATGAGCACCTCGTGGCT4080               TCCAGGACTCCAGAACTACCACCGTCTGCACGTACTACCACTTTTATGCTAGTTGGCATC4140               TGCCTTTCTATACAAAGCTACTATTAATCGACATTGACCTATTTCCAGAAATACAATTTT4200               AGATATCATGCAAATTTCATGACCAGTAAAGGCTGCTGCTACAATGTCCTAACTGAAAGA4260               TGATCATTTGTAGTTGCCTTAAAATAATGAATACAATTTCCAAAATGGTCTCTAACATTT4320               CCTTACAGAACTACTTCTTACTTCTTTGCCCTGCCCTCTCCCAAAAAACTACTTCTTTTT4380               TCAAAAGAAAGTCAGCCATATCTCCATTGTGCCTAAGTCCAGTGTTTCTTTTTTTTTTTT4440               TTTTTGAGACGGACTCTCACTCTGTCACCCAGGCTGGACTGCAATGACGCGATCTTGGTT4500               CACTGCAACCTCCGCATCCGGGGTTCAAGCCATTCTCCTGCCTAAGCCTCCCAAGTAACT4560               GGGATTACAGGCATGTGTCACCATGCCCAGCTAATTTTTTTGTATTTTTAGTAGAGATGG4620               GGGTTTCACCATATTGGCCAGTCTGGTCTCGAACTCCTGACCTTGTGATCCACTCGCCTC4680               AGCCTCTCGAAGTGCTGAGATTACACACGTGAGCAACTGTGCAAGGCCTGGTGTTTCTTG4740               ATACATGTAATTCTACCAAGGTCTTCTTAATATGTTCTTTTAAATGATTGAATTATATGT4800               TCAGATTATTGGAGACTAATTCTAATGTGGACCTTAGAATACAGTTTTGAGTAGAGTTGA4860               TCAAAATCAATTAAAATAGTCTCTTTAAAAGGAAAGAAAACATCTTTAAGGGGAGGAACC4920               AGAGTGCTGAAGGAATGGAACTCCATCTCCGTGTGTGCAGGGAGACTGGGTAGGAAAGAG4980               GAAGCAAATAGAAGAGAGAGGTTGAAAAACAAAATGGGTTACTTGATTGGTGATTAGGTG5040               GTGGTAGAGAAGCAAGTAAAAAGGCTAAATGGAAGGGCAAGTTTCCATCATCTATAGAAA5100               GCTATATAAGACAAGAACTCCCCTTTTTTTCCCAAAGGCATTATAAAAAGAATGAAGCCT5160               CCTTAGAAAAAAAATTATACCTCAATGTCCCCAACAAGATTGCTTAATAAATTGTGTTTC5220               CTCCAAGCTATTCAATTCTTTTAACTGTTGTAGAAGACAAAATGTTCACAATATATTTAG5280               TTGTAAACCAAGTGATCAAACTACATATTGTAAAGCCCATTTTTAAAATACATTGTATAT5340               ATGTGTATGCACAGTAAAAATGGAAACTATATTGACCTAAATGTGAACTGGTTATTTCTA5400               GGTGGTGAGGTGCTTTATGGTGGTGGGTTTTTGCTCTTGATGCCCTTTTTGCATTTTCCA5460               AAGTACCATGGTGAGGATGTGTTATATCTTTTCCAGGGTCCTAAAAGTCCCTGGCAACTC5520               CCTCCCCATACCCTACCATGACTGGTCACAGAACCCTTTCACCTTATTGATTTGTACTGA5580               TTTCATATGGAATATGGCAACTACATCTGGCTCAAAACAAAGGAAACCAGAAGAGCCAAG5640               TCCCAGGTGAGTGCTCAGTTCTGTTTCTAGCTTTGACGTGTGTGTTCTTCTGTGAAGGAC5700               AAAATTTGCTTCTATTATTTAGGTACCATAATTTGTGTTTTTCCAAATTAATTCCCTGCA5760               G5761                                                                          (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:3:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 188 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:3:                                        MetAspCysArgLysMetAlaArgPheSerTyrSerValIleTrpIle                               151015                                                                         MetAlaIleSerLysValPheGluLeuGlyLeuValAlaGlyLeuGly                               202530                                                                         HisGlnGluPheAlaArgProSerArgGlyTyrLeuAlaPheArgAsp                               354045                                                                         AspSerIleTrpProGlnGluGluProAlaIleArgProArgSerSer                               505560                                                                         GlnArgValProProMetGlyIleGlnHisSerLysGluLeuAsnArg                               65707580                                                                       ThrCysCysLeuAsnGlyGlyThrCysMetLeuGlySerPheCysAla                               859095                                                                         CysProProSerPheTyrGlyArgAsnCysGluHisAspValArgLys                               100105110                                                                      GluAsnCysGlySerValProHisAspThrTrpLeuProLysLysCys                               115120125                                                                      SerLeuCysLysCysTrpHisGlyGlnLeuArgCysPheProGlnAla                               130135140                                                                      PheLeuProGlyCysAspGlyLeuValMetAspGluHisLeuValAla                               145150155160                                                                   SerArgThrProGluLeuProProSerAlaArgThrThrThrPheMet                               165170175                                                                      LeuValGlyIleCysLeuSerIleGlnSerTyrTyr                                           180185                                                                         (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:4:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 2675 base pairs                                                    (B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                         (C) STRANDEDNESS: double                                                       (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ix) FEATURE:                                                                  (A) NAME/KEY: CDS                                                              (B) LOCATION: 809..1372                                                        (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:4:                                        AAGCTTGCGCGCCATGTAAGGTAAAGTGACTGATTCTATAGCAATCCAATTGTTCCTTTG60                 TCTGCCCGTTTACATATAACAATGTTGTCAATGTTTGATTGAAAATACCTAGCAGGTGAC120                ACACACACACCTAGCTCCTCAGGCGGAGAGCACCCCTTTCTTGGCCACCCGGGTATCCCC180                CAGGGAGTACGGGGCTCAAAACACCCTTTTGGAGAACAAGGTGGAAGCAAATTTCAGGAA240                GTAAAACTTCCGAAATAAAATAAAATATCGAATGCCTTGAGACCCATACATTTTCAGGTT300                TTCCTAATTAAAGCAATTACTTTCCACCACCCCTCCAACCTGGAATCACCAACTTGGTTA360                GAGAAACTGATTTTTCTTTTTTCTTTTTTTTTCCCAAAAGAGTACATCTGATCATTTTAG420                CCTGCAACTAATGATAGAGATATTAGGGCTAGTTAACCACAGTTTTACAAGACTCCTCTC480                CCGCGTGTGGGCCATTGTCATGCTGTCGGTCCCGCCCACCTGAAAGGTCTCCCCGCCCCG540                ACTGGGGTTTGTTGTTGAAGAAGGAGAATCCCCGGAAAGGCTGAGTCTCCAGCTCAAGGT600                CAAAACGTCCAAGGCCGAAAGCCCTCCAGTTTCCCCTGGACACCTTGCTCCTGCTTCTGC660                TACGACCTTCTGGGAACGCGAATTTCTCATTTTCTTCTTAAATTGCCATTTTCGCTTTAG720                GAGATGAATGTTTTCCTTTGGCTGTTTTGGCAATGACTCTGAATTAAAGCGATGCTAACG780                CCTCTTTTCCCCCTAATTGTTAAAAGCTATGGACTGCAGGAAGATGGTCCGC832                        MetAspCysArgLysMetValArg                                                       15                                                                             TTCTCTTACAGTGTGATTTGGATCATGGCCATTTCTAAAGCCTTTGAA880                            PheSerTyrSerValIleTrpIleMetAlaIleSerLysAlaPheGlu                               101520                                                                         CTGGGATTAGTTGCCGGGCTGGGCCATCAAGAATTTGCTCGTCCATCT928                            LeuGlyLeuValAlaGlyLeuGlyHisGlnGluPheAlaArgProSer                               25303540                                                                       CGGGGAGACCTGGCCTTCAGAGATGACAGCATTTGGCCCCAGGAGGAG976                            ArgGlyAspLeuAlaPheArgAspAspSerIleTrpProGlnGluGlu                               455055                                                                         CCTGCAATTCGGCCTCGGTCTTCCCAGCGTGTGCTGCCCATGGGAATA1024                           ProAlaIleArgProArgSerSerGlnArgValLeuProMetGlyIle                               606570                                                                         CAGCACAGTAAGGAGCTAAACAGAACCTGCTGCCTGAATGAGGGAACC1072                           GlnHisSerLysGluLeuAsnArgThrCysCysLeuAsnGluGlyThr                               758085                                                                         TGCATGCTGGGGTCCTTTTGTGCCTGCCCTCCCTCCTTCTACGGACGG1120                           CysMetLeuGlySerPheCysAlaCysProProSerPheTyrGlyArg                               9095100                                                                        AACTGTGAGCACGATGTGCGCAAAGAGAACTGTGGGTCTGTGCCCCAT1168                           AsnCysGluHisAspValArgLysGluAsnCysGlySerValProHis                               105110115120                                                                   GACACCTGGCTGCCCAAGAAGTGTTCCCTGTGTAAATGCTGGCACGGT1216                           AspThrTrpLeuProLysLysCysSerLeuCysLysCysTrpHisGly                               125130135                                                                      CAGCTCCGCTGCTTTCCTCAGGCATTTCTACCCGGCTGTGATGGCCTT1264                           GlnLeuArgCysPheProGlnAlaPheLeuProGlyCysAspGlyLeu                               140145150                                                                      GTGATGGATGAGCACCTCGTGGCTTCCAGGACTCCAGAACTACCACCG1312                           ValMetAspGluHisLeuValAlaSerArgThrProGluLeuProPro                               155160165                                                                      TCTGCACGTACTACCACTTTTATGCTAGCTGGCATCTGCCTTTCTATA1360                           SerAlaArgThrThrThrPheMetLeuAlaGlyIleCysLeuSerIle                               170175180                                                                      CAAAGCTACTATTAATCGACATTGACCTATTTCCAGAAATACAATTTTAGAT1412                       GlnSerTyrTyr                                                                   185                                                                            ATTATGCAAATTTCATGACCCGTAAAGGCTGCTGCTACAATGTCCTAACTGAAAGATGAT1472               CATTTGTAGTTGCCTTAAAATAATGAATACAATTTCCAAAACGGTCTCTAACATTTCCTT1532               ACAGAACTAACTACTTCTTACCTCTTTGCCCTGCCCTCTCCCAAAAAACTACTTCTTTTT1592               TCAAAAGAAAGTCAGCCATATCTCCATTGTGCCCAAGTCCAGTGTTTCTTTTTTTTTTTT1652               GAGACGGACTCTCACTCTGTCACCCAGGCTGGACTGCAATGACGCGATCTTGGTTCACCG1712               CAACCTCCGCATCCGGGGTTCAAGCCATTCTCCTGCCTCAGCCTCCCAAGTAGCTGGGAT1772               TACAGGCATGTGTCACCATGCCGGCTAATTTTTTTGTATTTTTAGTAGAGACGGGGGTTT1832               CACCATATTGGCCAGTCTGGTCTCGAACTCTGACCTTGTGATCCATCGCTCGCCTCTCAA1892               GTGCTGAGATTACACACGTGAGCAACTGTGCAAGGCCTGGTGTTTCTTGATACATGTAAT1952               TCTACCAAGGTCTTCTTAATATGTTCTTTTAAATGATTGAATTATACACTCAGATTATTG2012               GAGACTAAGTCTAATGTGGACCTTAGAATACAGTTTTGAGTAGAGTTGATCAAAATCAAT2072               TAAAATAGTCTCTTTAAAAGGAAAGAAAACATCTTTAAGGGGAGGAACCAGAGTGCTGAA2132               GGAATGGAACTCCATCTCCGTGTGTGCAGGGAGACTGGGTAGGAAAGAGGAAGCAAATAG2192               AAGAGAGAGGTTGAAAAACAAAATGGGTTACTTGATTGGTGATTAGGTGGTGGTAGAGAA2252               GCAAGTAAAAAGGCTAAATGGAAGGGCAAGTTTCCATCATCTATAGAAAGCTATGTAAGA2312               CAAGGACTCCCCTTTTTTTCCCAAAGGCATTGTAAAAAGAATGAAGTCTCCTTAGAAAAA2372               AAATTATACCTCAATGTCCCCAACAAGATTGCTTAATAAATTGTGTTTCCTCCAAGCTAT2432               TCAATTCTTTTAACTGTTGTAGAAGAGAAAATGTTCACAATATATTTAGTTGTAAACCAA2492               GTGATCAAACTACATATTGTAAAGCCCATTTTTAAAATACATTGTATATATGTGTATGCA2552               CAGTAAAAATGGAAACTATATTGACCTAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGAAACCACCCTTAGGCAGG2612               CAGGACATGCTCTTCAGAACTCTGCTCTTCAGAGTTCCAAAGAAGGGATAAAACATCTTT2672               TAT2675                                                                        (2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:5:                                               (i) SEQUENCE CHARACTERISTICS:                                                  (A) LENGTH: 188 amino acids                                                    (B) TYPE: amino acid                                                           (D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                           (ii) MOLECULE TYPE: protein                                                    (xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:5:                                        MetAspCysArgLysMetValArgPheSerTyrSerValIleTrpIle                               151015                                                                         MetAlaIleSerLysAlaPheGluLeuGlyLeuValAlaGlyLeuGly                               202530                                                                         HisGlnGluPheAlaArgProSerArgGlyAspLeuAlaPheArgAsp                               354045                                                                         AspSerIleTrpProGlnGluGluProAlaIleArgProArgSerSer                               505560                                                                         GlnArgValLeuProMetGlyIleGlnHisSerLysGluLeuAsnArg                               65707580                                                                       ThrCysCysLeuAsnGluGlyThrCysMetLeuGlySerPheCysAla                               859095                                                                         CysProProSerPheTyrGlyArgAsnCysGluHisAspValArgLys                               100105110                                                                      GluAsnCysGlySerValProHisAspThrTrpLeuProLysLysCys                               115120125                                                                      SerLeuCysLysCysTrpHisGlyGlnLeuArgCysPheProGlnAla                               130135140                                                                      PheLeuProGlyCysAspGlyLeuValMetAspGluHisLeuValAla                               145150155160                                                                   SerArgThrProGluLeuProProSerAlaArgThrThrThrPheMet                               165170175                                                                      LeuAlaGlyIleCysLeuSerIleGlnSerTyrTyr                                           180185                                                                         __________________________________________________________________________ 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of measuring an amount of CR-3 in a sample, comprising:a) contacting said sample with non-cross reactive antibodies having binding affinity to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3) product, but not to CR-1, under conditions such that immunocomplexes form, and b) measuring an amount of immunocomplexes formed between said antibodies and any CR-3 in said sample.
 2. A method of measuring an amount of CR-3 in a sample, comprising:a) contacting said sample with non-cross reactive antibodies having binding affinity to a human CRIPTO-related gene (CR-3) product having an amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO:5, under conditions such that immunocomplexes form, and b) measuring an amount of immunocomplexes formed between said antibodies and any CR-3 in said sample.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein said antibodies are monoclonal.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein said antibodies are polyclonal.
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein said antibodies are monoclonal.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein said antibodies are polyclonal. 